The Thar Desert:Origion of the Thar desert
The origion of the Thar desert is a controversial subject. Some consider it to be only 4000 to 10,000 years old, whereas others state that aridity started in this region much earlier. Also known as The Great Indian Desert, the huge unending expanse of burning hot sand is spread over four states in India, namely Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat, and two states in Pakistan and covers an area of about 446,000 square kilometres. Deriving its name from 'thul' denoting the sand ridges of the region. Presently the portion of Thar Desert in Pakistan falls in the Sindh province and sharing the rest of it with Rajasthan in India. Beyond Mirpurkhas land has been badly hit by the salinity and rise of water table hence the desert starts right after Mirpurkhas after 45 minute you start seeing the straw / Cone hoses of the desert dwellers. Until you reach Umerkot which is the largest town in Thar desert. The Thar Desert, however, is not an inhospitable, empty wasteland, but is often called, with good reason, the `Friendly Desert'. It is accessible, not too hot, and colourful, and makes a perfect four-day trip from Karachi. Papulation |
More than half a million people, 70 percent of whom are Hindu, live in the desert, spread out over 13,000 square kilometers (5,000 square miles).
Clothing
The women wear long, full, red or orange skirts and cover their heads with embroidered or tie-dyed shawls. Married women encase their arms in bone or plastic bangles from wrist to shoulder (widows wear bangles above the elbows only; single girls wear them only round the wrist). The people live in round mud-walled huts thatched with grass and surrounded with thick thorn hedges. These are clustered round the more reliable wells or along the tops of ridges.
Clothing
The women wear long, full, red or orange skirts and cover their heads with embroidered or tie-dyed shawls. Married women encase their arms in bone or plastic bangles from wrist to shoulder (widows wear bangles above the elbows only; single girls wear them only round the wrist). The people live in round mud-walled huts thatched with grass and surrounded with thick thorn hedges. These are clustered round the more reliable wells or along the tops of ridges.
Livestock
Beyond Mithi the real feeling of the desert begins. Sandy tracks weave between hills covered with low flowering shrubs. Vultures, buzzards, eagles, kites and many species of smaller birds are easily spotted. House crows and brown-necked ravens scavenge in the villages. Some of the remoter Hindu villages keep tame peacocks. Mammals are more difficult to spot. Indian and red foxes, jackals, gerbils, mongoose and squirrels are fairly common, but you are unlikely to see a pangolin, porcupine, desert bare, wolf or hyena.
Beyond Mithi the real feeling of the desert begins. Sandy tracks weave between hills covered with low flowering shrubs. Vultures, buzzards, eagles, kites and many species of smaller birds are easily spotted. House crows and brown-necked ravens scavenge in the villages. Some of the remoter Hindu villages keep tame peacocks. Mammals are more difficult to spot. Indian and red foxes, jackals, gerbils, mongoose and squirrels are fairly common, but you are unlikely to see a pangolin, porcupine, desert bare, wolf or hyena.
Mithi
with a population of 20,000, is the biggest town in the desert and a famous centre for Thari handicrafts, appliqued bedspreads, embroidered shirts, shawls, babies' hats, wall hangings, horse and camel trappings; silver jewellery and old carved wooden chairs and boxes. Hindus and Muslims live peacefully side by side in the desert, and in Mithi even enjoy each other's festivals. There are a number of Hindu temples in town, and these are at their best when there is a festival. The Temple of Nag Devta, the snake, has its festival inJune. The Muslim Shrine of Sayed Ali Shah, an 11th-centuryArab settler, celebrates its death anniversary on the 27th day of Ramazan.
with a population of 20,000, is the biggest town in the desert and a famous centre for Thari handicrafts, appliqued bedspreads, embroidered shirts, shawls, babies' hats, wall hangings, horse and camel trappings; silver jewellery and old carved wooden chairs and boxes. Hindus and Muslims live peacefully side by side in the desert, and in Mithi even enjoy each other's festivals. There are a number of Hindu temples in town, and these are at their best when there is a festival. The Temple of Nag Devta, the snake, has its festival inJune. The Muslim Shrine of Sayed Ali Shah, an 11th-centuryArab settler, celebrates its death anniversary on the 27th day of Ramazan.
Islamkot
About two hours from Mithi, is another predominantly Hindu town with two mosques and five Hindu temples. Almost every house has a wind catcher on the roof. From here a little-used track cuts north across country to Chachro. This track is not a bus route and is particularly difficult to negotiate, so it is essential to take a guide. It is an interesting route, however, as the villages are remote and untouched. Arnaro, about one hour north of Islamkot, is a Hindu village with protected peacocks. On the main track to Nagar Parkar, about 45 kilometres from Islamkot, is the Jain Temple of Gori, said to date from 1376. The pillared porch with its carved ceiling leads into a multi-domed chamber, divided into little cubicles; crumbling stone statues decorate the walls. The jams are followers Mahavira, a contemporary of the Buddha, and though no Jams live in Pakis today and the temple is abandoned there is still a festival here on 20-25 March honour of the Jain god Parasnath.
Map
About two hours from Mithi, is another predominantly Hindu town with two mosques and five Hindu temples. Almost every house has a wind catcher on the roof. From here a little-used track cuts north across country to Chachro. This track is not a bus route and is particularly difficult to negotiate, so it is essential to take a guide. It is an interesting route, however, as the villages are remote and untouched. Arnaro, about one hour north of Islamkot, is a Hindu village with protected peacocks. On the main track to Nagar Parkar, about 45 kilometres from Islamkot, is the Jain Temple of Gori, said to date from 1376. The pillared porch with its carved ceiling leads into a multi-domed chamber, divided into little cubicles; crumbling stone statues decorate the walls. The jams are followers Mahavira, a contemporary of the Buddha, and though no Jams live in Pakis today and the temple is abandoned there is still a festival here on 20-25 March honour of the Jain god Parasnath.
Map